5 Ups & 4 Downs From IMPACT Wrestling (24 June)
1. WWE Failed Her?!
That WWE failed to capitalise on Deonna Purrazzo's surreal abilities in-ring is inexplicable when you watch her against Susan. While far from a top-tier knockouts collision, 'The Virtuosa' picked Susan apart maliciously.
This worked perfectly because we're supposed to believe the Susan character isn't a trained wrestler. She shouldn't be capable of hanging with the Knockouts Champion, and so Deonna made a fool out of her. Purrazzo easily could have forced Susan into submission with a Tequila Sunrise, but she didn't; she was here to make a statement, not to rack up a meaningless win.
Seeing Susan come close to a three count did, however, cause Deonna to snap, cinching in a Fujiwara armbar to win the bout, and then the Venus di Milo post-match simply to make her point. What's intriguing here is that Kimber Lee pulled Purrazzo off of Susan. Deonna currently has no clear-cut Slammiversary opponent with Taylor Wilde absent. Putting her against Kimber could be a secret corker.
This new side of Deonna is what we must see from her in every match going forward. She was like a killer here, stalking her prey and ultimately eating Susan alive essentially. Deonna never needed Susan and Kimber Lee, especially if this is what she does without them.